After Mets' season finale, Noah Syndergaard says 'I love being a Met'
Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard looks on from the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on Sunday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
On the final day of the season, Noah Syndergaard reiterated a pair of points he has made repeatedly during the past year: He likes being with the Mets and he expects to remain with the Mets.
Trade rumors involving Syndergaard swirled last winter and this summer. The same might happen again in the coming months. Syndergaard is ready to deal with that because, he said, “I’m always mentally prepared for that.
“I’ve experienced enough, probably, that I know what to expect. But I’m pretty confident that I’ll be in the orange and blue for a while. I’m confident that going into spring training next year, I’ll be reporting to beautiful Port St. Lucie and be a Met. I love being a Met.”
Syndergaard allowed the Braves three runs in seven innings Sunday, striking out nine and walking two. He made a career-high 32 starts in 2019 — reaching the 30-start milestone for the first time since 2016 — but had a career-high 4.28 ERA.
He struggled with his slider. He aired his frustrations about pitching to Wilson Ramos. Sometimes he was dominant and other times he was mediocre, a spectrum of possible outcomes as puzzling to him as it was to those who watched, including his coaches.
With two seasons remaining until free agency, Syndergaard still can be a significant part of the Mets’ plans. “I just ignore [trade noise] and focus on the relationship that I have with [GM Brodie Van Wagenen and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon],” he said. “And I think we’re all on the same page and a part of something huge. We all want to be a part of it next year.”
Extra bases
Amed Rosario led the Mets with 177 hits . . . After the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention last week, Ramos had only one at-bat in the final four games. Ramos, 32, played in a career-high 141 games . . . Robinson Cano said he will focus on strengthening his legs in the offseason after dealing with two leg injuries this season . . . The NL Rookie of the Year will be named Nov. 11. The NL Cy Young Award announcement is Nov. 13.
